A/N: I'm back, and with another challenge response for the Men of Tortall forum, February 2010:Free

be sure to tell me what you think :)

I don't own anything you recognize


No one understand how trapped I am. They think that I can do whatever I want. They think I have all the money I could want, all the entertainment, all the food.

After all, I was the only son, I was the prince, and now I am the king.

I have thousands of foot soldiers at my disposal. I can demand a charge of mounted warriors from miles away. I don't even have to think to have some of the finest knights of the realm throw themselves in front of danger for me, and I even have the most powerful mage in the world willing to do the simplest of magic's for me, not to mention the jewel that can hold the land itself together.

I have several healthy children, all of them strong, determined, and understand duty. I have the most beautiful woman in the world as my faithful wife. One of the wisest men in Tortall is my advisor. The sharpest swordswoman in any realm is my champion, the strongest man my commander, and the most unconventional my spymasters.

My country is considered one of the most powerful, the most progressive, and the god of countries.

Many people think I have it all.

Yes, I do have it all, all the problems, all the fights.

My money is the first to go when a treasury runs low as I try to keep up the façade of wealth while I try to pay for everything from the Scanran Border to the waters of Carthak. Nobles all crying for your favor is my entertainment of the evening. I can't be the first person to ever eat my food; someone always has to check before me.

No one was brave enough to b e themselves around the prince; they were all trying to play nice with the future ruler.

Of course, with all my soldiers, I have to feed them, clothe them, and once they meet their end I have to take the body count on my mind. Every weapon is doubled bladed in my opinion. I soldier killing the enemy, and then the soldier dies. The mages work for me, I have to pay for their magical items required. My jewel can hold a world together, but the power comes from the world in return, causing famine for years.

Children all need a parent's guidance, but mine rarely got it from me, I was always a king, not a father. My wife is always the point of conversations from someone, and I can't challenge them myself, and if I do my champion fights my battles with swords then once it's over she cuts me with her sharp words. My commander refuses to be seen, my advisor's wit gets turned against me, my spymasters know everything before I even get finished reading any reporter, even private matters.

My country is always expected to come to the rescue, but at the same time be torn apart by holding onto old traditions and a feeling of betrayal with the new views being presented at court.

I was caged at birth. I was tied down as a prince. I am trapped as King.

There is only one time that I can truly be free. That is when I am everything but me. When I am the voice. I can be in anyone's mind, and be released from my own.

I've raced across the desert sands, bringing a horse into a full gallop. I've traveled to the deepest parts of Carthak. I've felt what it's like to fell when you're in so much pain you're almost dead. I've breathed the clean air beneath the expanse of a night time sky.

Being The Voice is my only freedom, my only time where I can get away from all my own troubles.

Yes, my true freedom is not from piles of gold, beautifully false people, or thousands of people acting on my orders.

My freedom comes from looking into a fire.